“By several officers.”
“That wasn't my question.”
“Yes.”
The Captain nodded.
“Body camera on?”
The officer’s face changed.
Tiny movement.
Enough.
The Captain noticed.
“Is your body camera recording?”
The officer reached toward his chest.
The light was dark.
The Captain stared.
“When did you turn it off?”
“I didn't.”
“Then why is it off?”
“Battery issue.”
The Captain looked at the man in the navy jacket.
The man lowered his own phone slightly.
The officer noticed the glance.
“What?”
The Captain held up his phone.
“My battery works.”
The officer exhaled.
“This is being taken out of context.”
The Captain nodded.
“That sentence usually means context is about to become very important.”
The ambulance arrived.
Two paramedics approached.
One looked toward the homeless man.
“What happened?”
The Captain answered:
“He was kicked while lying across the bench.”
The officer looked sharply at him.
The Captain did not care.
The paramedic crouched.
“Sir, can you tell me where it hurts?”
The homeless man touched his side.
“Knee too, but that's old.”
The paramedic began checking him.
The second paramedic asked:
“Loss of consciousness?”
“No.”
“Hit your head?”
“Shoulder.”
“Any blood thinners?”
The homeless man laughed bitterly.
“I don't have aspirin.”
The paramedic looked at him.
No judgment.
Just information.
“Okay.”
He continued examining him.
The Captain stepped away.
The officer followed.
“Captain.”
“Stay where you are.”
“Sir.”
The Captain turned.
“You want to explain now?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
The officer straightened.
“He has been sleeping in this park almost every day.”
“So?”
“Residents complain.”
“Who complained today?”
The officer paused.
“People have complained before.”
“Today.”
“No specific caller.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I patrol this sector.”
“Why did you approach him?”
“To enforce quality-of-life ordinances.”
The Captain stared.
“Quality-of-life.”
“Yes.”
“For whose life?”
The officer frowned.
The Captain continued.
“Because his quality of life appears to have decreased substantially during your enforcement.”
The officer’s face reddened.
“Captain, with respect, he was noncompliant.”
“I watched.”
“He ignored directions.”
“I watched.”
“He made movements toward me.”
“I watched.”
The Captain stepped closer.
“And then you kicked a man who was half lying on a bench.”
The officer said nothing.
“Tell me which part I failed to see.”
Silence.
The second phone continued recording.
The Captain finally looked toward the officer’s belt.
“Service weapon secured?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Radio?”
“Yes.”
“Call a supervisor.”
The officer stared.